The long regular football season is over for all intents and purposes. There is still a 10th regular-season game left on the schedules of those teams who didn’t make the playoffs, but with the district playoffs beginning this weekend, most of the teams in the area didn’t even schedule a 10th game, figuring either to be in the playoffs, or not wanting to play if they didn’t.
Locally, both area teams qualified to make the playoffs as both Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis have made it a habit to do so. Of course there are years when one or both may not qualify, but these times are extremely rare. In just about any given season not just one, but both continue on into the playoffs, and 2004 is certainly no exception.
Both schools sport 8-1 records and each in their own size qualification enters the playoffs as the second-seeded team in their classification.
Tyrone (8-1) is the number two seed in Class-AA, having compiled a total of 1,130, topped only by an undefeated Bedford squad (9-0) with 1,200 points. Bellwood-Antis (8-1) is the number two seed in Class-A with 1,240 points, second only to Blairsville (9-0) which has a total of 1,300, the highest point total of any of the four divisions of District VI football.
By virtue of the seeds, both local schools will begin the first round of playoffs at home, on Friday night. Tyrone will host seventh-seed Purchase Line (6-3) at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2004. Bellwood-Antis will host Laurel Valley (7-2), also the seventh seed, at Bellwood on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m.
Common opponents sprinkle the playoffs in both classes. Philipsburg-Osceola (8-1), which shared the inaugural Mountain Athletic Football Conference with Bellwood-Antis and Tyrone, earned the third seed in Class-AA and will open their playoff hunt on Saturday against fourth seeded Chestnut Ridge (7-2) at Philipsburg.
Undefeated Juniata Valley (9-0) captured the third seed in Class-A and will host a Saturday game against sixth-seed Moshannon Valley (7-2) at 7 p.m.
In Class-AAA, Huntingdon (5-4) has a third seed and a Saturday date at number two seed Bellefonte (5-4).
Other playoff games for this weekend, with their records and seeds, include Friday night: number eight-AA seed Central Cambria (5-4) at top seed Bedford; number eight-A seed Portage (7-2) at top seed Blairsville; number four-AAA seed Central Mountain (4-5) at top seed Johnstown (7-2). In District 5-A number six seed North Star will play at number three seed Windber.
On Saturday, Class-AA fifth seed Forest Hills (7-2) will play at number four seed Bishop McCort (7-2). Class-A fifth seed Bishop Carroll (7-2) will play at number four seed United (8-1). In District 5-A, number five seed Conemaugh Township will play number four seed Rockwood at Meyersdale.
